Major League Soccer Regular Season - 4

New York City FC 3 - 1 FT Colorado Rapids

Yankee Stadium

Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching

Futmetrix Verdict
54
FT
Sat, Mar 14
New York City FC
3-1
Colorado Rapids
⚡ Intensity 57
⚖️ Balance 20
🏆 Stakes 44
🎲 Upset 0
New York showcases ruthless counter-attacking efficiency.

Ruthless New York Punishes Wasteful Colorado

Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 54/100. Nicolás Fernández’s explosive brace proved the ultimate difference as New York City FC showcased clinical finishing to overcome a possession-heavy Colorado side.

Defending the Bronx

The tight confines of Yankee Stadium always demand a specific tactical approach, and the home side understood the assignment perfectly. The visitors rolled into town with a clear game plan, passing the ball around the park. Colorado Rapids controlled possession, stringing together over 600 passes across the night. But having the ball doesn't win soccer games. New York City FC sat back, absorbed the pressure, and waited for their window to strike. The Balance of the matchup heavily favored the hosts on the counter. In the 22nd minute, the plan bore fruit. Nicolás Fernández found space and buried the opening goal with absolute conviction. The visitors pushed high, but their lack of cutting edge in the final third left them exposed to New York’s lethal transitions.

A Breathless Finish to the Half

Just as the first half drew to a close, absolute chaos erupted on the field. Fernández doubled his tally in the 45th minute, securing a brilliant brace that sent the home crowd into a frenzy. Yet, the celebrations had barely died down before the visitors punched right back. Rafael Navarro slipped a clever ball through the lines, and D. Yapi finished the move to instantly cut the deficit. That sudden swing pushed the Intensity metrics off the charts. It was a breathless end to the half that completely reset the momentum going into the locker rooms. Amidst the madness, Keaton Parks stood tall as the anchor for New York. His vision and composure in the middle of the park repeatedly disrupted Colorado's rhythm and kept the hosts grounded.

Slamming the Door Shut

The second half settled into a grueling war of attrition. The Rapids threw numbers forward, desperately hunting for an equalizer. The Stakes felt remarkably high for an early-season clash, carrying the do-or-die weight of a knockout round survival test. Every tackle carried extra bite. Despite facing a barrage of possession, New York’s defensive shape held firm. The coaching staff made the perfect call in the 63rd minute, bringing on fresh legs to exploit the tired visiting defenders. Talles Magno pounced on a late opportunity in the 86th minute, hammering home the insurance goal to wrap up a 3-1 victory. The win solidifies New York's position near the top of the standings, proving their efficiency makes them a genuine threat this year.

Key Questions

What made Nicolás Fernández the Man of the Match?

He netted an explosive first-half brace, showing clinical finishing that ripped through Colorado's defense and decisively shifted the game's momentum.

How did substitute Nicolás Fernández change the game?

Fernández actually started, dominating early with two goals. It was Talles Magno who emerged from the bench later to seal the victory with a late strike.

What is the Futmetrix Score?

The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.

Match Statistics

Possession
41%
59%
New York City FC 41%
Colorado Rapids 59%
Shots
13
8
New York City FC 13
Colorado Rapids 8
Shots on Target
8
2
New York City FC 8
Colorado Rapids 2
Expected Goals (xG)
1.34
0.76
New York City FC 1.34
Colorado Rapids 0.76
Passes
421
604
New York City FC 421
Colorado Rapids 604
Pass Accuracy
80%
89%
New York City FC 80%
Colorado Rapids 89%
Corners
4
4
New York City FC 4
Colorado Rapids 4
Fouls
14
25
New York City FC 14
Colorado Rapids 25
Yellow Cards
2
2
New York City FC 2
Colorado Rapids 2
Red Cards
0
0
New York City FC 0
Colorado Rapids 0

Match Events

Hamzat Ojediran 🟨 8'
22' N. Mercau
39' 🟨 Aiden O'Neill
Darren Yapi 🟨 42'
45' N. Mercau
D. Yapi (Rafael Navarro) 45'
HT
W. Frederick T. Ku-DiPietro 🔄 55'
A. Manyoma D. Sealy 🔄 55'
63' 🔄 K. Parks Talles Magno
H. Ojediran J. Atencio 🔄 69'
76' 🔄 A. Ojeda Raul Gustavo
J. Travis M. Navarro 🔄 82'
K. Rosenberry M. Diop 🔄 82'
86' Talles Magno
90' 🔄 A. O'Neill J. Shore
FT

Player Cards

Our take on every player in this match

New York City FC

Goalkeepers
M. Freese
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
1
Fouls Won
1
Fouls Won
1
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Defenders
T. Gray
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
30%
Pass Acc
Thiago Martins
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
80%
Duel Win %
K. Trewin
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
55%
Pass Acc
K. O'Toole
ENFORCER
ENFORCER
5
Tackles
5
Tackles
6
Duels Won
75%
Win %
Midfielders
A. O'Neill
NPC
NPC
90
Minutes
90
Minutes
31%
Pass Acc
6.7
Rating
K. Parks
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
7
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
A. Ojeda
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
14
Late Mins
14
Late Mins
76
Total Mins
76
Entry
M. Moralez
PROVIDER
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
2
Key Passes
7.5
Rating
H. Wolf
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
5
Fouls Won
5
Fouls Won
7
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Forwards
N. Mercau
HITMAN
HITMAN
2
Goals
2
Goals
5
On Target
8.9
Rating
BENCH
T. Romero
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Raul Gustavo
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Baiera
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Tanasijevic
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
N. Cavallo
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Carrizo
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Shore
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Talles Magno
CLUTCH HERO
CLUTCH HERO
86
Goal Time
86
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7.7
Rating
S. Reid
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Colorado Rapids

Goalkeepers
N. Hansen
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
1
Fouls Won
1
Fouls Won
2
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Defenders
K. Rosenberry
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
4
Tackles
50%
Duel Win %
R. Holding
MAGNET
MAGNET
98
Activity
98
Activity
91
Passes
7
Duels
L. Herrington
MAGNET
MAGNET
109
Activity
109
Activity
105
Passes
4
Duels
Midfielders
J. Travis
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
H. Ojediran
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
69
Total Mins
69
Entry
W. Frederick
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
55
Total Mins
55
Entry
D. Yapi
SNIPER
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
P. Aaronson
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Manyoma
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
4
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Forwards
Rafael Navarro
PROVIDER
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
2
Key Passes
6.7
Rating
BENCH
A. Beaudry
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
M. Navarro
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
8
Total Mins
Started
Entry
N. Cobb
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Atencio
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Ku-DiPietro
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
35
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Harris
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Sealy
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
35
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Diop
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
8
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Head to Head

Date Home Score Away Competition Venue
05/05/2024 New York City FC 0 - 2 Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer Citi Field
06/19/2022 New York City FC 1 - 1 Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer Yankee Stadium
07/21/2019 Colorado Rapids 1 - 2 New York City FC Major League Soccer Dick's Sporting Goods Park (Denver, Colorado)
05/19/2018 New York City FC 4 - 0 Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer Yankee Stadium
09/17/2017 Colorado Rapids 1 - 1 New York City FC Major League Soccer Dick's Sporting Goods Park
07/30/2016 New York City FC 5 - 1 Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer Yankee Stadium
03/21/2015 Colorado Rapids 0 - 0 New York City FC Major League Soccer Dick's Sporting Goods Park
05/05/2024
Major League Soccer Citi Field
06/19/2022
Major League Soccer Yankee Stadium
07/21/2019
Major League Soccer Dick's Sporting Goods Park (Denver, Colorado)
05/19/2018
Major League Soccer Yankee Stadium
09/17/2017
Major League Soccer Dick's Sporting Goods Park
07/30/2016
Major League Soccer Yankee Stadium
03/21/2015
Major League Soccer Dick's Sporting Goods Park
New York City FC Win
Colorado Rapids Win
Draw

League Standings

Pos Team P Pts GF GA GD Form
1 Inter Miami 3 7 6 3 +3 DCharlotte 0 - 0 Inter Miami (14-03-2026)WDC United 1 - 2 Inter Miami (07-03-2026)WOrlando City SC 2 - 4 Inter Miami (02-03-2026)
2 New York Red Bulls 4 7 4 5 -1 DToronto FC 1 - 1 New York Red Bulls (14-03-2026)LNew York Red Bulls 0 - 3 CF Montreal (08-03-2026)WNew York Red Bulls 1 - 0 New England Revolution (28-02-2026)WOrlando City SC 1 - 2 New York Red Bulls (22-02-2026)
3 New York City FC 2 6 7 1 +6 WNew York City FC 5 - 0 Orlando City SC (07-03-2026)WPhiladelphia Union 1 - 2 New York City FC (01-03-2026)
4 Nashville SC 2 6 5 1 +4 WColumbus Crew 0 - 1 Nashville SC (14-03-2026)WNashville SC 4 - 1 New England Revolution (22-02-2026)
5 DC United 3 6 4 3 +1 WChicago Fire 1 - 2 DC United (15-03-2026)LDC United 1 - 2 Inter Miami (07-03-2026)WDC United 1 - 0 Philadelphia Union (22-02-2026)
6 Chicago Fire 3 4 4 2 +2 LChicago Fire 1 - 2 DC United (15-03-2026)DColumbus Crew 0 - 0 Chicago Fire (08-03-2026)WChicago Fire 3 - 0 CF Montreal (28-02-2026)
7 Toronto FC 2 4 2 1 +1 DToronto FC 1 - 1 New York Red Bulls (14-03-2026)WFC Cincinnati 0 - 1 Toronto FC (08-03-2026)
8 New England Revolution 3 3 7 6 +1 WNew England Revolution 6 - 1 FC Cincinnati (15-03-2026)LNew York Red Bulls 1 - 0 New England Revolution (28-02-2026)LNashville SC 4 - 1 New England Revolution (22-02-2026)
9 Atlanta United FC 2 3 3 3 0 WAtlanta United FC 3 - 1 Philadelphia Union (14-03-2026)LFC Cincinnati 2 - 0 Atlanta United FC (21-02-2026)
10 CF Montreal 3 3 4 5 -1 LOrlando City SC 2 - 1 CF Montreal (14-03-2026)WNew York Red Bulls 0 - 3 CF Montreal (08-03-2026)LChicago Fire 3 - 0 CF Montreal (28-02-2026)
11 FC Cincinnati 3 3 3 7 -4 LNew England Revolution 6 - 1 FC Cincinnati (15-03-2026)LFC Cincinnati 0 - 1 Toronto FC (08-03-2026)WFC Cincinnati 2 - 0 Atlanta United FC (21-02-2026)
12 Orlando City SC 4 3 5 12 -7 WOrlando City SC 2 - 1 CF Montreal (14-03-2026)LNew York City FC 5 - 0 Orlando City SC (07-03-2026)LOrlando City SC 2 - 4 Inter Miami (02-03-2026)LOrlando City SC 1 - 2 New York Red Bulls (22-02-2026)
13 Charlotte 1 1 0 0 0 DCharlotte 0 - 0 Inter Miami (14-03-2026)
14 Columbus Crew 2 1 0 1 -1 LColumbus Crew 0 - 1 Nashville SC (14-03-2026)DColumbus Crew 0 - 0 Chicago Fire (08-03-2026)
15 Philadelphia Union 3 0 2 6 -4 LAtlanta United FC 3 - 1 Philadelphia Union (14-03-2026)LPhiladelphia Union 1 - 2 New York City FC (01-03-2026)LDC United 1 - 0 Philadelphia Union (22-02-2026)